On Feb.4 2011 our department responded to a fully involved residential structure fire. Apparatus and POV’S were staged at the base of a steep driveway approximately 300′ from the incident. One member parked his POV directly under a powerline supplying the home. During the course of the fire the powerline arced and "whipped" through trees breaking loose from it’s anchor point on a utility pole. The energized line landed on a POV and fortunately power at this point was interrupted nearly missing electricuting members and avoiding any further damage.
LESSONS LEARNED:
Always anticipate the worse case scenario when staging personnel and equipment. Beware of the surrounding potential dangers above , below, left and right.
